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Produced by:  Michael Sykes
Spring Hill Music Group

For me, one of the most anticipated releases for this year was Dottie’s new solo CD.  “Stand By the River” will no doubt, delight her fans and will once again, show the world that she ain’t done yet!  Featuring mostly new arrangement to her older material, along with a couple of new songs, Dottie sounds the best she’s sounded in 15 years.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since she has recorded, and it’s about time!

With its Cajun flavor, “WE’VE WEATHERED STORMS BEFORE” starts things off and fits Dottie to a ‘T’.  Written 20 years ago, Dottie has lived this song and has found God faithful to help weather out the storms in her life.

Slowing things down, Dottie delivers an emotional performance on what is probably her best-known song, “HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULT.”  In total contrast, she barrels through the infectious “I’M GONNA LEAVE HERE SHOUTIN’.” Fun and full of energy, Dottie does very well on this song revived from the late 60s, and before the song is over, you too will be smiling and singing along…“I’m gonna leave here shoutin’, when my time comes to go!”

”BRING ALL YOUR NEEDS TO THE ALTAR” slows things down to a more worshipful pace as Dottie recalls I Peter 5:7, to cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for you.

I have always considered Dottie to be the Dolly Parton of gospel music.  Both seem to have similar personalities and styles, which is why it was no surprise to me how well they sounded together on Dottie’s late 70’s penned tune, “STAND BY THE RIVER.”  This song is a definite highlight of the recording and as already proven, is a definite hit!

As ‘Queen of the ballads’, Dottie penned a new song depicting the story of those who lost their lives in the coalmines in western Kentucky.  “WEST KENTUCKY COALMINES” also pays tribute to those who were recently in the Pennsylvania coalmines.  Another excellent new song is the solemn “MY UNCHANGING FRIEND.” 

I was delighted to see one on my favorite Rambo songs revived, “THE HARVEST.”  As a prayer put to song, I love what the says concerning the call placed on each Christian…“Master, You have placed me in the vineyard, You trusted me to tend the golden grain, I pray that You’ll be pleased with me when I lay my harvest at Your feet…”

Done completely anew, Dottie tears into another one of my all time favorite Rambo tunes, “WHEN I LIFT UP MY HEAD.”  Just when you think you’ve heard this song arranged in every conceivable fashion, take a listen at this!

”THANK YOU SWEET LORD” is a song Dottie wrote close to 10 years ago.  This is my favorite “new” song on the recording.  A simple song of praise to the Lord, Dottie writes and sings from her heart “I just want to thank you sweet Lord, for loving and caring, believing and daring to trust me, after I stumbled, even when I sinned…you loved me again…so thank you, sweet Lord.”

Closing out the recording is a song Dottie wrote almost 30 years ago and is still relevant today called, “MY SONG IS NEW.”

My one disappointment was the exclusion of one of my all-time favorite Rambo tunes, “In the Valley, He Restoreth My Soul”.  Oh well, maybe next time.  Featuring background vocals by such people as Charlotte Ritchie, Sonya Isaacs, Judy Martin-Hess, Stephen Hill, Ponder, Sykes and Wright, among others, as well as music accompaniment by such musical creators as Gary Prim, Steve Brewster, Wanda Vick, Ben Isaacs, John Willis, Jerry Kroon, Aubrey Haney, Gordon Mote, Terry McMillan, Brent Mason and others, this is an exceptional recording.  An excellent job on Dottie’s part throughout the whole recording, and kudos also to producer Michael Sykes for a job well done and putting it all together.  Michael worked his magic and brought the best out of Dottie and helped breath new life into some truly wonderful Rambo classics and soon to be classics!

Personal Favs: WE’VE WEATHERED STORMS BEFORE; HE LOOKED BEYOND MY FAULT; I’M GONNA LEAVE HERE SHOUTIN’; STAND BY THE RIVER; THE HARVEST; WHEN I LIFT UP MY HEAD; THANK YOU SWEET LORD

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